Genocide: Revised and Expanded Edition

by Jane Springer, Santiago Solís (illustrator)

What is genocide? Why does it happen? What can be done to prevent it from happening again?

At the end of the Second World War, with the establishment of the United Nations, the holding of the Nuremburg Trials and the adoption of the Genocide Convention, the international community assured itself that genocide would never happen again. But never again has become a meaningless phrase.

This book asks why. It also asks, what is genocide? Where has it happened in the past? Who is being threatened by genocide today? And what can we do to prevent this terrible crime from recurring?

Providing an overview of the history of genocide worldwide, this revised, expanded edition helps readers answer these questions. It brings them up to date with recent events—the killing of the Rohingya in Myanmar, the persecution of the Uyghurs in China, the broader recognition of the genocide of Indigenous Peoples, the resurgence of fighting in Darfur, and the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. It examines and elucidates the debates and controversies surrounding the use of the term genocide as well as the reasons for the common response by individuals, governments and the United Nations — denial.



Key Text Features

annotated resources

chapters

definitions

explanation

facts

further information

further reading

headings

historical context

illustrations

index

map

sidebars

table of contents

timeline

Genres: Graphic Novels

186 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2024

Reviews

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75/5 - Incredibly devastating and informative. I learned so much from this book and deeply appreciated the simplicity of the writing given how heavy this topic is. I wish there was a bit more depth to a few of the case studies, but that might just be due to my own ignorance surrounding several of the events. Although difficult, I cannot recommend this enough.

[Kira]

I actually refuse to rate this book and let me tell you why. While it was a really interesting, insightful, and contextual overview of genocide theory and its causes, preceding actions, practice, and varying degrees of resistance and lack there of in human history — this book was released as a REVISED AND EXPANDED edition in 2024 and yet it makes little reference to the Gaza genocide, and where so refers to it only as a “conflict” and one that began as retaliation in 2023 (no historical context of apartheid or occupation). While listing off the definitions and qualifications of genocide and much great nuanced discussion about where and why the definition falls short, the author is blind to the exact overlap of these criteria with not only what has happened in Gaza since 2023 but from the first forced ethnic cleansing of Palestine in 1948 to continued ethnic cleansing and annexation in the West Bank and Gaza today. While discussing the the role of media in preventing genocide via drawing international attention to the crises, the author fails to mention that Gaza is the most heavily live documented genocide in human history and fails to mention that Israeli targeted attacks have been the most deadly for journalists than any other conflict at any time in the history of the world. All while falling prey to the language of humans and media professionals “confirmed dead” instead of the more active and accurate language of “were killed by” as the author allows for every other case covered. To say I am disappointed by this Canadian author is a gigantic understatement and I feel her unwillingness to honestly tackle this timely and ongoing genocide SEVERELY undercut her point in what would have otherwise been an excellent overview of the topic.

[Jamie Magnuson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but mighty.

This book takes a look at the history of genocide (both the word itself and the mass killings of groups before there was a word to describe it), what genocide means today, and ends with an eye towards the future.

To be frank, genocide is a term was familiar with but tried not to think about. It's uncomfortable to think of the dehumanization and mass murder that are inherent in an act of genocide. It's also frequently spoken about in the past tense -- we acknowledge and learn about the Holocaust in school, so I assumed other genocides would be taught too. Sure, I remember watching a movie in high school on the Rwandan genocide, but there was a vagueness around it and it wasn't spoken about at the same level as other historical events.

Reading this book I am humbled by my nativity.

The term "genocide" was coined by Raphael Lemkin during the Nuremberg trials which put a number of leading Nazis on trial, but the history of genocide is traced back to the BCE times. Throughout history we see numerous examples of genocide, but hardly any accountability by the perpetrators and bystanders. For example, the Armenian genocide (1915-1920) where Armenians in the Ottoman Empire were targeted and over 664,000 were killed, though some estimates are higher. Today, the Turkish government still denies claims of genocide and will even punish citizens who talk about it. Hitler actually references this genocide while encouraging his generals to be brutal in the invasion of Poland, saying "Who today remembers the extermination of the Armenians?"

I'm also displeased with the lack of accountability from other countries, who don't get involved to help unless there's something in it for them to gain. And I'm disappointed, though not surprised, that the US is doing it's fair share of denial and shirking responsibility. The US is the only country in the WORLD that hasn't signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child because it doesn't want to be held accountable for a child's right to housing, and one of seven countries that refuses to sign the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (the other six are Iran, Sudan, Nauru, Palau, and Tonga...really leaders in feminism there.)

What we can do is remember instances of genocide in the past and listen to survivor's stories through museums, books, or other mediums. To make sure genocide doesn't happen we must hold ourselves and our neighbors to a higher standard -- a standard of understanding and kindness. Urging your representatives to take action when needed, even if policies (international or domestic) don't directly apply to you. We all need to work together to make the world a better place!